I was a woman on a mission. The Christmas cards were addressed–with handwritten notes, of course. The house looked like a winter wonderland with four softly-lit Christmas trees decked out in a variety of ornaments and garland.
The family room sported a large Bethlehem village and the living room had a snowy village scene fresh from the streets of small town America. The mantels were decorated with carolers, candles and greenery.
The Christmas dishes and goblets were in the dining room and the tablecloth and napkins were ironed. Poinsettias added splashes of color around the room.
Even the bathrooms had Christmas decorations. Yeah, the holiday décor spread across the house like that kudzu vine that grows on every surface in many Southern towns. Christmas had taken over the Cox house.
But that was just the beginning. There were parties to attend and parties to plan–and of course every feast had to be homemade and plated in a festive manner. And all of that basically meant that the house needed to be spotless for the whole month of December–quite a feat with children at home.
There was shopping and the resulting wrapping of the presents I bought. After that, I started making cookies and candies for the Christmas trays that we delivered to friends and to our business clients.
Add in all of the tasks of my regular routine, writing deadlines and serving as Mom’s Taxi Service for my sons, and I was busier than a UPS truck making holiday deliveries.
And then one day I realized something important: I was too busy to welcome Jesus.
It was His birthday–the day to welcome a King–but everything else was taking precedence.
Not only that, I’d become so busy doing for my family and friends at Christmas that I wasn’t really spending time with them. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken a few hours to just be with my husband and sons in the evening.
When was the last time I’d sat quietly taking in the true meaning of the season while listening to the sweet words of “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger” and enjoying the lights from the Christmas tree as they bathed the nativity set in a soft glow?
It was time to make some changes. I talked to my family and asked them which of the decorations meant something to them or which ones they’d like us to keep. I discovered that none of us cared about some of the things I was doing.
I cut down on the 5,432 varieties of cookies and candies I usually made for the cookie trays and just did the ones that still tasted great but were quick and easy to do. And you know what? Everyone was still delighted to get their cookie tray.
I learned that my guests didn’t mind if everything wasn’t perfect. I found that they were actually more at ease when it wasn’t. They just wanted us to be together. We even ordered pizza for some of the meals–and the world didn’t fall apart.
Our house still looks festive at Christmas. We still have a warm welcome for friends and family who visit, but the focus is back where it belongs.
Because there’s one thing I don’t ever want to be guilty of again. I don’t ever want to be too busy to welcome Jesus.
How about you?
Dear Lord, our hearts are overwhelmed that You loved us enough to give your precious Son’s life for ours. Thank You for the gift of that tiny babe whose birth would change the world forever. We welcome You with open arms and hearts. Amen.
